Hot Pursuit

I loved this book! Hot Pursuit follows our fmc and mmc as they embark on a reality TV show. The issue is that they've met twice before: once a week ago when he became her coworker and once almost a year ago on a two-night stand. Oops!

First of all, I was incredibly impressed by the attention that was put into the game part of it. Our main characters are on a mission to get to London with just the supplies in their backpack and expert hunters trying to eliminate them (from the game lol). So many moments made me feel like I was walking with them or frantically trying to find shelter.

The character development was so well done. Both of our main characters had personal issues to work through. There was the perfect blend of support from the love interest and individual development.

The romance was romancing! There was so much tension with these two throughout the entire book. I especially loved how the romance tied in with their character developments.

I recommend this to anyone that watches 'Survivor' and fans of dislike to love.

Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy.

good lord this was such a cutie!! i’m normally not a huge fan of game show romances, but this was so well done and hit every note for me. i need more from this author asap!

Lydia signs up for a survivialist reality show but finds that her partner is her one night stand Tom. She has lots of unresolved feelings for him....

Love the banter! It's snappy, fun and sassy. The chemistry between the characters is terrific. The hate-love relationship is done beautifully. A fun read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I loved Cassies first book "Love Under Contract‘ and I enjoyed this one just as much. It’s a fun read, with interesting characters set in the real world. You don’t have to have read the first book but trust me you’ll want to. Perfect summer read.

Such a good fun book. A great ride through the countryside while two characters battle a competition to win money they both desperately need. Love the enemies to lovers with the twist of the previous meeting!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my opinion on NetGalley.

I loved this book! It was the first book I had ever read by Cassie Connor and it was great. From lovers to enemies to lovers again, Lydia and Tom captured my heart from the very beginning and had me rooting for them the whole way.

There is love, action, adventure, conflict, depth, and so much more in this story that it made me not want to put it down! Who would have thought that a book about a woman named Chlamydia Smith would be this fantastic?

And don’t get me started on Tom. Where can I find a man like him? 🤯 Loving, caring, and willing to change for the woman he loves? SIGN ME UP

I have never read this author before and just stumbled upon this book. What a great, fun and really heartwarming read. I loved it 🩷🩷
Tom and Lydia end up paired together on a reality show - both needing the money to follow a dream. While Tom starts off grumpy and closed off, he soon opens himself up to really get to know Lydia.
Lydia’s heartbreaking childhood and broken self image is beautifully repaired by Tom as he learns to love her and she learns to love herself and him.
I really, really loved this book 🥰

Just what I needed in a book, and I ate this story! The build up, the end result it was all amazing.

4.5 rounded down to 4. I picked up this book because I thought it would be a super fun rom-com and did not see the emotional one-two coming. But boy, oh boy, did I love it.

Lydia and Tom shared a weekend of no-strings attached passion that completely ruined them for anyone else. But, a year later, when Tom shows up at a work site as Lydia's new co-worker, their professional relationship gets off on the wrong foot. The two of them audition for a reality show where they must flee from bounty hunters and end up paired together. Can the two of them work together?

Was Hot Pursuit a fun rom-com? Yes. I could name so many cute and hilarious moments, but many of them would be spoilers, so let's just settle on saying it won't disappoint in this department. Did it also spark a deep emotional connection in me for both main characters? Also yes. When I reached the hurt/comfort, I thought it was going to be about the physical toll of show and not the emotional baggage they brought with them. But Cassie Connor provided both and it was beautiful.

Cassie was raised by neglectful parents and learned to rely on herself. Meanwhile, Tom's parents were the opposite; meddling in his life to the point that home was not a safe space to be himself. Watching these two extremes of control come together not only for the show but for each other-and themselves-was the highlight of the book.

Pick it up for the reality show escape; stay for the emotional payoff.

Lydia and Tom. Two emotionally unavailable people stuck together, what could go wrong.

This book was such a fun ride. It sucked me right in and I was rooting for Tom and Lydia to win the competition.

Tom and Lydia both insurance adjusters join a reality tv show where they have to make it to the final destination in one week without getting caught.

I do wish we heard more about Tansy and Rory

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

In this lovers to enemies to lovers rom com, Lydia Smith and Tom Dereborn are shocked to find they are partnered together in a survivor style reality TV show... especially since they haven't seen each other since their one night stand a year ago.

Pros:
- Excellent banter
- True lovers to enemies to lovers. They truly do not like each other when they are reunited.
- Fun and unique plot, meet-cute, and re-meet-cute
- Fun and authentic side characters
- Depth of characters, background, and growth are believable and relatable
- Spicy scenes were intimate and sexy
- Long term impacts of child neglect and food insecurity were portrayed thoughtfully

Opportunities:
- It seems to take Lydia getting hurt (repeatedly) for Tom to (repeatedly) realize his feelings. His emotional maturity was lacking throughout much of this book.
- Tom seems to have little to no idea how the world outside of his upper middle class family lives - which is almost impossible considering he works in insurance and must have seen his fair share of situations.

Overall, this is a solid four star book. I really enjoyed the love story and was interested in their journey / mission on the reality show.